Even a hot-headed hell-raising delinquent like Fiammetta Barone could some time to herself every now and then. She'd been working damn near every day she'd been in Baska, trying to send as much money back home as she could. Favors for a doctor, tasks for a fashionista, gambling, fighting, scavenging... She'd tried damn near everything. But aside from extra loose change, she just wasn't earning enough.

And if she was perfectly honest, she was getting real sick of it. Stress mounted, as she was continually reminded that she wasn't good enough to take care her of her family. Guilty as she felt about it, she needed a day off, before she blew like the pressured boiler she was.

Her first choice was to spend time with a certain raven-haired trickster, but schedules hadn't quite aligned. So there she was, strolling through the hills on the outskirts of Baska, looking to fulfill the conditions for the second best method of stress relief she could think of. Namely, training.

"Yeah, aight... This'll work." Fia mused as eyed up the perfect spot. The tall girl looked up at a great big oak tree, strong and sturdy, with branches low enough to grab onto.

She shimmied out of her jacket, tossing it aside and leaving her in just her loose pants and the bandaging that wrapped her upper body. Eyeing a strong-looking low-hanging branch, Fia leaped up and grabbed onto it with both arms.

It was perfect, hardly flexed at all, held her weight without trouble. With that sorted, she began her first exercise: Pull-ups. With practiced rhythm, the girl brought her chin up to the branch on each count.

1...2...3...4... And so on. She was already feeling the blissful burn, the heat of the sun overhead, the sweat dripping down her forehead. Fia picked up the pace, letting the thrill rush through her! A little too much thrill, it seemed, as her hand's temperatures began to rise uncontrollably - her human-boiler magic kicking in. She, unfortunately, didn't quite notice the smoke that was starting to rise from where she'd gripped the branch.

Fia normally found it pretty easy to let herself get lost in the movements, consumed in the sweat and fire. Exercise wasn’t just about keeping healthy to her, it was form of stress-relief, a way for her to bathe herself in the heat that always soothed her. It gave all that rage and frustration inside of her a place to go, burned up all that excess energy.

But today was different. Try as she might, Fia just couldn’t clear her troubled mind as she went about her rhythmic routine. She wasn’t usually such a worrywart, but stress had left her vulnerable to pessimistic delusion. She wondered hopelessly, about what would happen if she couldn’t secure the funds for her family. What’d transpire if her siblings lost them home. Or if her father would ever even get out of prison…

She even wondered why she hadn’t from Esperia for a couple days. But that was quickly laughed off. The trickster was probably just off bothering someone or being a Good Samaritan. It was ridiculous, the idea that the intelligent young woman would be in trouble… Right?

Perhaps it was an effort to expunge those thoughts that increased the intensity of her exercise, causing the unintentional smoke signal as her body began to literally steam, like she was attempting to burn her concerns out of her. She was heating up, and so was the tree, catching the attention of a certain elven blonde.

Fia was so stuck in the zone that she didn’t notice the sharp-eared girl until her exasperated cry. The steam punk glanced down mid pull-up, furrowing an angry and confused brow. Who the hell was this elf, interrupting her private exercise session?

”Heatin’ up? Course I am, I’m feelin’ the burn!” Fia growled enthusiastically.

It was about then that she smelled it. The smoke.

”Oh shit!”

Eyes going wide in shock as she realized her accidental arson, Fia quickly released her grip from the branch, stumbling as she landed on the grass. Some of the bark had started to burn, and Fia wasn’t about to start a forest fire in front of an elf.

So, she picked up her jacket, and began whacking it against the small fire, until it was well and truly dealt with, before turning to face the elf who’d discovered. Fia wasn’t quite sure what to say, presuming she’d offended them somehow by hurting nature. Truth be told, Fia’s never really spoken to an elf before…

”Yo, uh, you ain’t gotta worry, I put it out. Had that shit under control.” Fia announced confidently. It was then that something occurred to Fia. ”The hell are you doin’ over here anyway, Greenie?”

Fia hadn't had the most academic upbringing, nor had she seen a very diverse array of people in her childhood home. So it was only natural she was completely unsure of how to act around elf. All she knew, from her father, was that they could be stuck-up and were tree huggers. Hence, 'Greenie'.

The delinquent girl didn't give the best first impression, so it wasn't surprising the elf seemed to scold her for ruining her relaxation. Not that Fia realized that, though.

"Ruined yer relaxin'? Cry me a river, Greenie." Fia growled heartlessly, but immediately felt a little guilty when she spotted the elf's expression. The elf, despite their words, seemed... Calm. Kind, even.

So maybe not as stuck up as Fia had assumed.

Fia furrowed a confused brow as the elf suggested they forget about that, before delivering a spiel that had Fia even more bewildered. This girl was making an awful lot of assumptions, wasn't she? Not that was wrong, though. It was just that the untrusting Fia felt a little wary of the girl's intentions.

As if she wasn't already feeling a little awkward, the elf suddenly made an utterly ridiculous suggestion. She wanted to be friends!?

Fia's jaw dropped at the openness, the soft smile. The delinquent girl felt her face heat up a little, a single stream of steam briefly rising her face.

Greenie wanted to befriend her all of a sudden!? The hell!? Normally, Fia would be inclined to doubt the girl's true intentions, inclined to push away any attempt to get closer to her. But... Recent experiences had taught there might just be merit in letting herself trust people, if only a little...

"Yer a weird one, Greenie. Wantin' to be pals with someone you ain't ever seen before." Fia groaned, sticking to her predetermined nickname for the girl for now. She could've shortened 'Liana' to 'Lia', but that was to close to 'Fia', and 'Li' felt a bit too friendly.

Sure, she could've just called her by her actual name, but that wasn't Fia's style.

"But I'll bite. Guess a lil' company ain't always bad." The steam punk admitted, looking away and scratching her cheek as she felt herself blush once again, like the tsundere she was.

"Name's Fia. Nice and simple, don't forget it." She gave her usual introduction, stepping toward the girl. "And yer kinda right, 'bout whatchu said. Don' mind all the trees an' shit, I guess. Mostly just like 'em for exercisin'. Air's nicer around 'em"

Fia glanced at the girl, an inquisitive brow furrowed at her. "Said you were here to relax? Heh, guessin' yer a fan of all this, huh? Er, well, guessin' that's a given', what with the uh..." She gestured to the pointy ears on Liana's head, indicating the steam punk's slightly racist assumption.

What exactly was this girl's problem? Fia wondered such things as the elven girl displayed her joy at Fia's company, causing the delinquent girl's cheeks to flush. As a girl who could list all her non-family acquaintances on one hand, Fia really wasn't used to or comfortable with people being so... Friendly. Her abrasive attitude usually impeded that, but this was not the case with 'Greenie'.

"Y-Yeah, don't get too excited..." Fia groaned as she looked away from the girl, fidgeting a little. She wasn't used to this level of amiability, of tolerance for her terrible attitude. Her natural instinct was to reject it, her distrust creating a social barrier around her. One that Liana seemed to just walk right through.

Though, that wasn't to say she didn't like such persistence in befriending her. Reminded her of a certain raven-haired trickster...

"C-Cute? Shaddup with that..." Fia stammered at the praise of her name, a bit of steam rising from her ears. Even hearing Esperia call her cute prompted such a reaction, the delinquent conflicted with the actual flattery of the compliment and how it went against the 'thuggish image' she tried to put on.

After her insensitive question, Fia wasn't sure how the girl would respond, not even realizing how poorly she'd worded her comment. Fia hadn't been raised by the most sensitive or tactful man, meaning social graces weren't exactly her strong point.

Fortunately, Liana - whose name Fia had heard before, but wasn't making the connection - continued to display her tolerance, smiling with pride and joy, prompting a confused look from Fia. She'd heard that the elves were a proud people, but didn't realize they were this... Upbeat.

Surprise colored Fia's face at the mention of how she'd never heard or read of them before, a little off-put by how Liana had hit the nail right on the head.

"Well, y'know, there weren't many of yous near where I grew up." Fia admitted as she scratched her cheek, a little embarrassed by her ignorance."All I heard was yous really like nature and shit, got the pointy ears, and can be some real stuck-up sons of-"

Fia stopped suddenly, realizing how she'd been echoing her less-than-tolerant father's words. With slightly flushed cheeks, she looked to Liana with a wide-eyed expression. "Er, but yeah, that's just what my old man said. Dunno how much of it is true."

In the past, Fia would really not have cared if the girl took offense to her 'stuck-up' comment, but certain recent encounters had the delinquent girl a little more concerned with actually making friends. Fortunately, it didn't seem like she'd have to worry about being offensive.

The steam punk's eyes widened in shock at the elf's mention of how she gained her pointed ears. A ritual to change one's very race? She didn't such a thing existed. Though, apparently, it was for 'a good cause'. Probably some environmental thing, Fia figured.

"Shit, must've been somethin' extreme to make you change yer whole frickin' body with this ritual or whatever." Fia mused as she traipsed over to the true, leaning against at as she re-adjusted the bandages that covered her chest. "And, uh, don't worry 'bout what my old man said. Knowin' 'im, he was probably dealin' with the worst of ya. I mean, errr... Y-You don' seem stuck-up or anythin'" Fia said as she scratched her nose, still a little embarrassed by what she'd said. She genuinely believed that anyone else would've given up on befriending her by now.

The conversation continued to flow, no thanks to Fia, as the elven girl inquired about Fia's origins. A natural to ask in Baska, it seemed, with how many travelers the city attracted.

"I don' mind talkin' 'bout it." Fia shrugged as she watched the girl sit down and began brushing her hand on the grass. She really did like nature, didn't she? Maybe Greenie was a pretty solid nickname after all.

"Raised not far from 'ere. Orphanage, run by the guy I call my old man. Place was outta the way o' most things, close enough to a few of the smaller towns though." Fia spoke with a slightly strained tone. She wasn't normally this open, so all she could really do was be casual and flat about it, avoid any opportunity for pity or empathy.

"What 'bout yer self, Greenie? You a local?" Fia asked in an attempt to pitch into the conversation. She slid down the tree, sitting down and leaning on it with her arms resting on her knees.

It seemed the elf's reasons for becoming one were more serious than Fia had initially thought. Sure, she'd taken the whole 'good cause' thing seriously, but didn't know that it was this personal. The delinquent girl ended up staring down at her knuckles at the mention of this important person and how far Liana would go for them. Staring into the scar tissue along her hand, Fia was reminded of a certain someone by those words.

"Yeah, guess I can understand why ya did it, when ya put it like that.." Fia muttered in response as she ran her thumb over the wounds on her knuckles that Esperia had bandaged.

The mood was lifted as Liana once again assured Fia that she'd no reason to be ashamed of her or her father's initial view on elves. Though, the mention that something must've happened between her father and some elves prompted a chuckle from the steam punk. "Sounds about right. Old bastard probably ended pickin' a fight with one over somethin' stupid." Fia commented with an almost wistful grin as thoughts of her father emerged.

When the topic of origins came up, Fia was once again reminded of dear old Dad, with Liana's mention of Baldo's 'kind heart', prompting Fia to look down in an attempt to hide her soft smile. Hearing people talk about her father like that was something she liked, but was never going to get used to.

Liana's own origins were comparatively much more simple. She was just a girl from North Fiore, a forest-dweller it seemed, who'd been let out into the world by her parents after reaching the right age. Fia found it a little amusing, that this was the second person she'd met from North Fiore. She supposed that people just wanted to get out of the hellish cold weather.

Though, with the girl's next words, the coincidence would become more evident...

"So ya came down here to meet a friend, huh?" Fia said curiously, something about that statement reminding her of something. Her face scrunched up as she focused inward, racking her brains to try and think up whatever it was that sounded so familiar about his girl's story...

Hang on...
Reunited childhood friends?
5 years ago?
Liana?

"Oooooh shit!" Fia suddenly exclaimed with the relief of someone who'd just figured something out. She snapped her fingers at pointed at Liana. "Yer Princes- Er, I mean..."

Fia quickly caught herself, face steaming immediately after she realized she'd almost publicly used the private nickname she had for the girl. "Oi, uh, Greenie." Fia spoke up, trying again. "Any chance yer talkin' 'bout a girl named Esperia? About yay high, gots funky eyes, real perverted?" Fia queried, trying and failing to hide the small grin of satisfaction at finding the person Esperia had talked about so much.

She, of course, had yet to make the connection between Esperia and the 'important person' Liana was trying to save...

It was really an incredible stroke of luck, bumping into the childhood friend Esperia had talked about on the outskirts of Baska. Sure, the town wasn’t the biggest, but it still one hell of a coincidence, and the prospect of meeting one of Esperia’s close friends had Fia quite excited, if only so she could learn a little more about her dearest girlfriend.

Though their relationship was only somewhat new the two had come very close very quickly, both emotionally and physically, so getting to know Esperia’s best friend was definitely something Fia was interested in, not that she’d admit that. Fortunately, it seemed Liana was just as interested in their connection, apparently already knowing some details of Esperia and Fia’s date.

”Y-Yeah, that’s me, Doc got us together, I guess.” Fia admitted, looking away and blushing a little as she began to wonder just how much Liana knew of her and Esperia’s date. She figured it must be a fair amount, judging by how happy the elven girl looked after learning Fia’s identity. Though, honestly, that made Fia quite happy, knowing Esperia had mentioned her.

The elf proposed they go on a walk, and asked what Fia thought about Esperia. The delinquent girl gulped a moment, taking Liana’s hand as she stood up to follow the elven girl, scooping up her jacket as she did. Fia wasn’t quite sure how to answer Liana’s question at first, still being far from comfortable with the way she truly felt towards Esperia. Then again, this was apparently Esperia’s dearest friend, so anything short of complete honesty would’ve been wrong, right?

”What I think of her, huh?” Fia said lowly, clearing her throat and scratching her cheek in embarrassment. ”Well… She’s a good person, don’t let anythin’ keep her down neither. Espy’s a bit of a pervert, but it’s kinda endearin’ at times…” Fia rattled on, her desire to be honest getting the better of her. The steam punk looked away from Liana, her face reddened as she decide to just summarise her points. ”So, basically, I like her, I guess…”

Fia couldn't but smile as she noticed just how enamored the elf was by the environment around her. The nickname she'd given the young Sylvaine was looking more and more suitable by the minute, and just seeing such genuine connection with the world around her reassured Fia that she could trust the blonde. Though, she might've been a bit too honest, revealing things she thought the girl already knew.

Hazel eyes locked with the elf's surprised look, and Fia suddenly gulped, steaming a little as she realized Liana didn't actually know they were a couple. Some deep part of her feared a disapproval, but fortunately, it seemed Liana was quite happy with the reveal, even saying they were a great couple.

"Y-Yeah, I guess..." Fia stammered out suddenly, turning away to hide her deep blush and joyful smile. Liana was, apart from Gerard, the only other person Fia had told about their relationship, so hearing such a positive assessment had her feeling over the moon.

Even though she'd have never revealed it, some part of Fia still felt so... Uncertain about things. She and Esperia, the delinquent and the princess, it just didn't sound like something that would work, so being reassured that things would go well for the pair was pretty awesome. It made her even more excited for the chance to tell Baldo about it too.

Fia's blush lightened, feeling a bit more comfortable around the Sylvaine, a bit closer thanks to their mutual connection. Her look softened further at Liana's congratulations, a half smile flashed in her direction as they walked.

"Thanks, Greenie. It... uh... Means a lot, y'know?"

The steam punk had come out to relieve some stress on that day, and it seemed she'd been able to do just that. She'd made a new friend, been reassured of the connection between and Esperia. And so, it seemed just a little more possible that things would be OK.

"Oh, yeah speakin' of Espy..." Fia suddenly chimed in, realizing there was a particular question Liana might be able to help her with. "Any chance you know where she's been the past couple o' days? I mean, I ain't worried or nothin'..." The oblivious girl smiled a little, continuing to be confident that nothing was wrong.

"Heh, guessin' she's out botherin' someone, huh?" She joked, a sly smile coloring her lips. If only she knew what she was asking.

That small grunt was all Fia could manage at first. The Barone stopped in her tracks, her body completely frozen, any train of thought she had ground to a halt. The words just spoken to her by the elf were practically incomprehensible, at first. They just didn't make sense, Fia replayed them over and over, figuring she'd misheard.

Esperia? In a coma?

Hazel eyes looked with pleading and confusion to Liana, but the Sylvaine would not even face her. "Huh?" Fia repeated again, her heart rate rising as it sank in, ever so slowly, that she had not misheard Esperia's dearest friend.

Esperia was in a coma.

"Huh!?" Again it was uttered, this time her tone was strained with anger. She felt her body tremble, felt something bubble and boil deep within her. Were Liana to look behind her, she might notice steam rising from the girl's back.

A step was taken toward the way Liana walked, Fia's skin reddened as her temperature rose. Her face was twisted in an ugly mix of anger, confusion, and distress.

Esperia was in a coma. She told herself that again. But it still didn't make sense. She'd only seen the girl a few days ago, smiling and unharmed. So how? How was she in such a state? And why, why did Liana not tell her more?

Letting out a wrathful growl, Fia stormed towards Liana with eyes like a predator's. She grabbed the elf on the shoulder, hard, turning her around and pulling her in by her top, glaring into Liana with focused hazel eyes.

"Where... is... she?" Fia growled, though her expression betrayed far more than just anger. She was distraught, bewildered, afraid. And unfortunately for Liana, it seemed like the elf might have answers.

Her grasp was weaker than it could've been. Though Fia was angry, furious even, she couldn't bring herself to actually harm Liana, or even really be truly mad at her. Sure, Fia was pissed off that Liana hadn't mentioned this clearly quite an important fact, but deep down the steam punk knew the person she most frustrated was herself. How in the hell had she not heard about this? Where had she been when this happened? Why wasn't she there?

But, regardless of how she actually felt, Fia's bursting anger needed a conduit, something to growl at and glare into. And unfortunately for Liana, she was the closest available option. The Sylvaine girl's unwillingness to look her in the eyes didn't help, making Fia feel even more like she'd been kept in the dark. It gave her that familiar and despicable sensation of powerlessness.

It still didn't make sense, Esperia being in a coma, but as that news settled in Fia found some tiny bit of solace in Liana's words. The mention of Gerard had a small of relief hit Fia, realizing that her girlfriend was in capable and trustworthy hands. And that wasn't the only good news.

Those past few moments were already something of an emotional rollercoaster, not that any of it had really truly hit Fia yet. Hearing her girlfriend was in a coma was frightening, and then hearing Liana and Gerard had already helped her? It gave her an odd mix of sudden joy and burning anger. Not directed at Liana, no, she only felt gratitude in that moment for the elven girl. No, the person she utterly loathed in that moment... Was herself.

Her girlfriend had fallen into a coma, and been saved. And during all of this, Fia has been no fucking help at all. She hadn't even known about it. And damned if that didn't make her feel like shit.

Fia's grip on Liana loosened, her anger drained. Though, as the elven girl started to apologize, Fia found herself gritting her own teeth in frustration. Why the hell was she apologizing? The hazel-eyed girl's hands found themselves in Liana's shoulders, as she herself looked down, anger seething through her teeh.

Even now, she couldn't comrehend it.

"Why?" She uttered softly, letting out shaky breaths as she clutched Liana's shoulders. Not a wrathful grapple, but a desparate grasp. "Why the fuck did this happen?"

It felt like itself was out to get her, and she was powerless to stop it. Fia continued to seeth, trying to hold back overwhelming and inexplicable emotions. A few shaky breaths were let out, before finally, a few tears started hitting the ground below. To think, all the fire of her fury had resulted in that drizzle.

She clung more desparately to Liana, feeling overwhelmingly grateful to the girl who'd apparently helped her girlfriend, but still somehow discontent. It didn't make sense, not yet.

"Liana.... Please... Take me to her..."

For a girl raised by one of the meanest and toughest mages in West Fiore, Fiammetta Barone sure as hell felt weak in that moment. No blow to her body had felled her, but only a vicious strike to her core. Emotions surged through her overwhelmingly, none of them positive. Fear. Anxiety. Confusion. Sadness. Anger. The deadly combination of those myriad factors had her weak in the knees, feeling like she could collapse at any moment, feeling like she was moments away from screaming out at the heavens.

It was Liana's embrace that prevented such an outburst.

Fia wasn't the touchy-feely kind. But if there was ever a moment she needed a hug, it was then. She completely disregarded that thug-like image she strived to maintain, focused only on the comfort and catharsis that was found in the act of crying into Liana's shoulder. Oh, how desparately she wanted to be angry. And yet, all she could seem to muster was sobs.

Liana mentioned that the tragedy had transpired due to Esperia's past, but Fia was in hardly any state to think about what that could mean. Esperia had mentioned to her that her family was taken by Lycans, so did that mean they were responsible? Another answer she'd have to find, it seemed.

Continuing to stifle her sobs in her elven friend, Fia did find solace in Liana's words. Bit by bit, she regained her composure, as the elf swore that they would be there next time, and be strong enough too. Fia grit her teeth, closed her eyelids hard as she tried to stop her tears. Liana helped with that, pulling Fia's head up and finally looking her in the eyes, delivering a powerful line as she did.

"...Yeah..." Fia uttered sternly yet quietly, nodding in affirmation. "Whatever it takes, we'll bring 'er back, and keep 'er safe." Her confidence was shaky, her mind still a mess, but just saying those words made her feel a little better. She wasn't completely powerless, not yet. There were still things she could do.

Like give hell to whoever put Esperia in that position in the first place.

The remnants of her sobs were wiped away by her newfound friend, with Fia attempting to mirror the soft smile given to her. Feeling like she could stand on her own two feet again, their embrace was broken, and Liana took the distraught Fia's hand. A strong grasp was given return, almost an affirmation of their newly built and quickly strengthened friendship. They both cared deeply for Esperia, and that was enough for them to be sisters-in-arms.

"Yeah. Let's."

Fia would gladly follow Liana along toward the hospital, hoping the whole way everything would start to make sense. And with the soothing words of her new friend, she was starting to feel as though it just might.

~End~